When Westerville South High School baseball coach Tim Bates decided to play his freshmen and sophomores at the varsity level over the past two years, he realized his team might struggle but hoped it eventually would benefit from the move.

Bates and his players hope that strategy will pay dividends this season.

"Last year we played with so many sophomores and freshmen," said Bates, who is in his 10th season. "They were inexperienced and to be inexperienced and to play in the (OCC-) Cardinal Division is not good ingredients for your soup. This year with them being experienced, one year through the league, playing together in the summertime, and they had success."

After losing just one regular starter from last season to graduation in Jayson Perkins (OF/P), who was special mention all-league, the Wildcats believe they are ready to contend for the OCC-Cardinal title.

Last season, the Wildcats finished 7-19 overall after losing to second-seeded Olentangy Orange 12-1 in five innings in the second round of the Division I district tournament.

The Warhawks lost 11 players from a year ago to graduation, including first-team all-district selection Connor Sitz (P/1B), who was the Player of the Year in the league after going 8-2 with a 2.19 ERA and batting .357 with 16 RBI. He now is playing at Ohio University.

"We look really solid," Keifer said. "It is kind of what we expected. We really don't have the big dominant horse that we've had in the past ... but collectively we may be really as solid from top to bottom as some of those teams."

Coach says North returns solid group

North opened March 30 by sweeping a doubleheader from Granville, winning 5-4 and 10-9 in nine innings. It begins OCC-Central play Monday, April 8, against visiting Darby.

Last season, North finished 15-10. After a first-round bye in the Division I district tournament, the Warriors lost to St. Charles 3-2 in the second round.

"I like what we have coming back," fourth-year coach Sean Ring said. "We have a lot of position guys coming back, so I like where our offense is sitting."

Senior Kevin Hackett (OF) was second-team all-league last year.

"We lost a lot of people, but we have a lot of young talent," he said. "From bottom to top, we're probably about the same this year as we were last year minus a few good pitchers."

North lost 10 players from last year to graduation, including Jake Miller (P/OF), who was first-team all-league and all-district and now is playing at Ohio University. He was 7-3 with a 1.44 ERA in 68 innings and led the team in batting average (.373), runs (19) and RBI (16) and hit the team's two home runs.

"With every good class that leaves, opportunities present themselves," Ring said. "We lost 10 seniors last year, so now we have young guys that can fill their shoes. I enjoy coaching the younger players because you can really work with them. They listen and you see them develop really quick because of their opportunity."